Tension mounting system and assembly

Abstract

A tension mounting system and assembly for suspending a flexible sheet material in a taut condition from a generally planar support surface and providing selective tension adjustment of the flexible sheet material is provided. The mounting system and assembly is especially suitable for use in signs displaying advertising material, such as billboards, signboards, and the like.

I claim: 
     
       1. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition comprising: a flexible sheet;   at least two rigid retaining means mounted at least at two opposite peripheral edges of said flexible sheet; and   at least two bracket means attachable to a support surface at locations corresponding to said at least two opposite peripheral edges of said flexible sheets, each said bracket means comprising at least one attachment flange attachable to said support surface, two side walls rigidly attached and oriented generally perpendicular to said attachment flange, a top wall oriented substantially perpendicular to said side walls and said attachment flange, an adjustable bracket arm adjustably clamping said rigid retaining means between said side walls and said adjustable bracket arms, and a threaded adjustment means engaging said top wall of said bracket means and said adjustable bracket whereby rotation of said threaded adjustment means causes axial displacement of said adjustable bracket arm and said rigid retaining means capable of tautening said flexible sheet.   
     
     
       2. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet is provided with closed loops said at least at two opposite peripheral edges for mounting said rigid retaining means. 
     
     
       3. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 2 wherein said rigid retaining means comprise tubes mounted in said closed loops. 
     
     
       4. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 3 wherein said rigid retaining means extend along substantially the entire length of at least said two opposite peripheral edges of said flexible sheet. 
     
     
       5. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet is generally rectangular and has rigid retaining means mounted at all peripheral edges, and a plurality of bracket means are attached to said support surface at locations corresponding to all said peripheral edges of said flexible sheet. 
     
     
       6. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 5 wherein at least two bracket means are attached to said generally planar support surface at locations corresponding to each said peripheral edge of said flexible sheet. 
     
     
       7. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 1 wherein each said bracket means comprises at least two attachment flanges and a top wall rigidly attached to said side walls. 
     
     
       8. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 7 having a bore in said top wall spaced substantially centrally between said side walls through which said threaded adjustment means extends. 
     
     
       9. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 8 wherein said bore in said top wall is larger in diameter than the diameter of said threaded adjustment means and said threaded adjustment means is pivotable with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said bore in said top wall. 
     
     
       10. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition comprising: a flexible sheet;   at least two rigid retaining means mounted at least at two opposite peripheral edges of said flexible sheet; and   at least two bracket means attachable to a support surface at locations corresponding to said at least two opposite peripheral edges of said flexible sheet, each said bracket means comprising at least two attachment flanges attachable to said support surface, two side walls rigidly attached and oriented generally perpendicular to said attachment flanges, a top wall rigidly attached to said side walls and oriented substantially perpendicular to said side walls and said attachment flanges; an adjustable bracket arm comprising a first leg oriented generally parallel to said top wall, a second leg rigidly attached and oriented generally perpendicular to said first leg, and a third leg rigidly attached and oriented at an angle of about 110° to about 135° to said second leg adjustably clamping said rigid retaining means; and a threaded adjustment means engaging said top wall of said bracket means and said adjustable bracket arm whereby rotation of said threaded adjustment means causes axial displacement of said adjustable bracket arm and said rigid retaining means capable of tautening said flexible sheet.   
     
     
       11. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 10 wherein each said bracket means additionally comprises an inner bracket arm having a first component oriented substantially parallel to said second leg of said adjustable bracket arm and a second component rigidly attached and oriented at an angle of about 110° to about 135° to said first component. 
     
     
       12. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition according to claim 11 wherein said first and second components of said inner bracket arm are wider than the distance between said two side walls of said bracket means and said first component has a slot receiving said first leg of said adjustable bracket arm. 
     
     
       13. A tension mounting assembly for suspending flexible sheet material in a taut condition comprising: a flexible sheet;   at least two rigid retaining means mountable at least at two opposite peripheral edges of said flexible sheet; and   a plurality of bracket means attachable to a support surface at locations corresponding to said at least two opposite peripheral edges of said flexible sheet, each said bracket means comprising at least one attachment flange attachable to said support surface, a heavy beam surface, a top wall oriented substantially perpendicular to said attachment flange, and an adjustable bracket arm clamping said rigid retaining means between said adjustable bracket arm and said bearing surface, and being threadedly engaged with a threaded adjustment means retained in a bore in said top wall of said bracket means, whereby rotation of said threaded adjustment means causes axial displacement of said adjustable bracket arm capable of tautening said flexible sheet.   
     
     
       14. An adjustable bracket means comprising: at least two attachment flanges, at least two side walls rigidly attached and oriented generally perpendicular to said at least two attachment flanges, and a top wall rigidly attached to said side walls and oriented generally perpendicular to said side walls and said attachment flanges, said top wall provided with a bore spaced centrally between said side walls;   a threaded adjustment means having an enlarged head at one terminal end, said threaded adjustment means extending through said bore in said top wall and retained in said bore by said enlarged head;   an adjustable bracket arm threadedly engaged on said threaded adjustment means, said adjustable bracket arm having a first leg oriented generally parallel to said top wall, a second leg rigidly attached and oriented generally perpendicular to said first leg, and a third leg rigidly attached and oriented at an angle of about 110° to about 135° to said second leg, whereby rotation of said threaded adjustment means causes axial displacement of said adjustable bracket arm.   
     
     
       15. An adjustable bracket means according to claim 14 wherein said bore in said top wall has a diameter larger than said threaded adjustment means and smaller than said enlarged head, and said threaded adjustment means is pivotable with respect to the central longitudinal axis of said bore in said top wall. 
     
     
       16. An adjustable bracket means according to claim 14 wherein said adjustable bracket arm additionally comprises an internally threaded nut fixedly attached to said first leg of said adjustable bracket arm and threadedly engaged with said threaded adjustment means. 
     
     
       17. An adjustable bracket means according to claim 14 additionally comprising an inner bracket arm adjustably retained on said adjustable bracket arm, said inner bracket arm comprising a first component oriented substantially parallel to said second leg of said adjustable bracket arm and laterally displaced therefrom, and a second component extending at an angle of about 110° to about 135° from said first component, said second component of said inner bracket arm extending in a direction toward said third leg of said adjustable bracket arm. 
     
     
       18. An adjustable bracket means according to claim 17 wherein said first and second components of said inner bracket arm are wider than the distance between said side walls and said first component of said inner bracket arm abuts the terminal edges of said side walls. 
     
     
       19. An adjustable bracket means according to claim 18 wherein said first component of said inner bracket arm has a slot receiving said first leg of said adjustable bracket arm.